Improvement in boys  sleds



N. c SANFORD;

. Sleigh.

Patented Sept. 22. 18.63;

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h PE ERS. PHOTO-LITMOGRAPHEE. WASWXNGTON, n, C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHIEO N. O. SANFORD, OF MERIDEN, OONNEOTIC UT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOYS SLEDS.

Specification forming pa t of Letters Patent No. 40,065, dated September 22, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, N. G. SANFORD, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boys Sleds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a prospective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the same.

Similar letters in the three views refer to corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the operation of steering a sled in coasting or going down a steep hill, and to enable every boy or ch ld to slide down setting comfortably in an upright position, legs and feet all aboard, and guiding his vehicle by the motion of his feet or by pulling a cord in the easiest and simplest manner.

The invention consists in the arrangement of a single or double rudder, hinged or pivoted to the under side of the seat or platform near to its rear end between the runners, and connecting by suitable levers and rods with an oscillating foot-bar secured by a pivot to the under side of the seat near its front end in such a manner that, by the act-ion of the feet on the footbar, the sled can be steered in the easiest possible manner, and at the same time the rudder is perfectly protected against any accident.

The invention consists, also, in the arrangement of two short metal flanges projecting from the under edge of the runner near their front end, in combination with a metal rib secured to and projecting from the under edge of the rudder and throwing the rear ends of the runners off the ground in such a manner that, on turning the rudder, the sled turns on the flanges projecting from the bottom edges of the runners as on pivots, thereby facilitating the operation of steering and relieving the runners from that side strain to which they are subjected, if the sled in turning bears on their edges from one end to the other.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a sled made with a seat, B, supported by two runners, O, in the ordinary manner.

D is the rudder, which consists of a short runner fastened to the under side of the seat between the two runners O, and near to the rear end of said seat by a pivot, a, projecting from the front end of the rudder, so that the rear end of the same can freely swing or oscillate in either directien. From the rudder D an arm or lever, E, extends in either direction, and this lever connects by rods b with the footbar F. This bar is secured to the under side of the seat B by means of a pivot, 0, near to the front end of said seat, and it (the bar) extends through slots din the runners far enough to form a support for the feet of the rider, as clearly shown in Fig.1 of the drawings.

From the foot-bar two handles, Gr, extend up through curved slots 6 in the seat, and by means of these handles the rudder can be operated either by tying a rope to them, which the rider holds in his hands, or by applying the hands directly to them.

The runners G are provided each with a short projecting flange, f, made of a thin strip of iron or other suitable material, and inserted into the lower edge of the runners near to their front ends. A similar flange or rib, g, is secured to the lower edge of the rudder, and this rib is of such a height that the rear part of the sled rests entirely upon it, the rear ends of the runner being raised from the ground; consequently the sled is supported in front by the projecting flanges f, and in the rear by the rib g, and if the same is in motion, and the rudder is broughtin an inclined position, the runners turn on the flanges f, as on pivots, and the direction of the sled is changed without exerting any strain on the runners- If the flange f and rib g are not used, and the lower edges of the runners bear on the ground from end to end, a sudden change In the direction of the sled, particularly Wh n the same is in a quick motion, causes Eb Strain on the runners, which is liable to snap them and to spoil the pleasure of the rider in v ry unceremonious manner.

With my improvements the steering of th sled is rendered perfectly easy, the rudder is protected from injury by being placed be tween the runners, and the runners are 1 17 manner and for the purpose shown and de scribed.

2. The application of the flanges f and rib g, in combination with the runner O and rudder D, constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as specified.

N. O. SANFORD. Witnesses:

LEVI E. POE. ASAHEL H. GUsTIs. 

